Lee soccer teams sweep NCCAA titles and other sports news

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

The Lee University soccer teams both won National Christian College Athletic Association Division I soccer championships Saturday in Kissimmee, Fla. The fifth-seeded Lee men beat Bethel of Indiana 2-1, and then the second-seeded Lady Flames prevailed against top-seeded Grace College, also of Indiana, in a penalty-kick shootout after they played to a 1-1 tie through overtime. In both cases, Lee trailed 1-0 at halftime. Ricardo Carvalho put Bethel up at 33:13 in the men's match, but Quade Marinell's goal from a Robbie Cutchin assist at 64:10 and David Perez's score two minutes later put coach Paul Furey's Flames on top, and they stayed there, winding up 12-9-2 after coming to Kissimmee with a losing record. In the women's final, Grace scored in the 21st minute and Lee (15-4-2) didn't get the equalizer until Nicole Blanchard scored at 80:16. Marbel Egwuenu was credited with seven saves, and Alison Braun, Kinsey Cichowitz, Katie Cloud, Kaela Leskovar and Michelle Spangler netted the Lady Flames' PKs in the shootout. That gave them their fifth national title under coach Matt Yelton, following a string of four in the NAIA before they moved to NCAA Division II. They can start postseason championship quests in that association next year.

Bowling

• Local bowler Frank Massengale tied a state record and set a CABA city standard by bowling three 279s in a series last Tuesday night in the Pinblasters league at Holiday Bowl Hixson. The 837 series is a record for a "triplicate." Massengale, 49, also has bowled 125 sanctioned 300 games and 103 series of 800 or better.

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